Switch Mode

AW Chapter 1 (Part 3)

AW | Chapter 1 (Part 3)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD


I had no idea what any of that meant, but it certainly sounded like an impressive dish.

“Wow. That sounds amazing. I bet it tastes great.”

Though my response was awkward, it was at least positive, and Seiris’ eyes lit up slightly. What was that about…?

“Then you should order one too, Aine.”

Oh. She said my name. She had asked for it earlier, of course, but actually hearing it from her mouth felt strangely unfamiliar. It seemed the others felt the same, as everyone except for Bakrud paused their meal to look between Seiris and me. I hurriedly waved my hands.

“Oh, no. I already ordered.”

“Then next time.”

Seiris ended the conversation with a hint of disappointment and began eating. Next time? Next…? My heart nearly skipped a beat, and for a moment, I felt a thrill—until Dain ruthlessly cut it down.

“What next time? This is the last day.”

Maybe I should be thankful that Dain crushed my expectations before I could even have any… Feeling suddenly down, I started eating as well. Not that it made much of a difference—my meal consisted of nothing more than soup and a piece of bread, which barely filled me up.

Maybe my mood was obvious, because before I knew it, Kelian, who had already finished his meal, asked me,

“Would you like to order more?”

“Oh, no. I’m fine.”

I must have looked too hungry. Avoiding his gaze, I quickly lowered my head and stared at the table.

“……”

He didn’t press any further and simply remained silent. He had probably asked out of politeness in the first place, so there was nothing more to say.

Most of us had finished eating by then, but we had to wait for Bakrud, who was still working through his meal. The party’s conversations were mostly led by Jenin and Dain, so the rest of us listened while they talked amongst themselves. But at some point, Jenin turned to me and started a conversation, pulling me into the discussion.

“So, you’ve been living alone all this time?”

“Yes. My parents passed away when I was young.”

“Oh… Stay strong.”

Jenin seemed deeply sympathetic about my situation. The thought of a low-level adventurer like me living alone in a village, hunting by myself, seemed to genuinely move her, as if she might even tear up.

It was actually a good sign that the hero’s party pitied me, so I didn’t mind. The problem came from somewhere else—Dain, who had been listening with a frown, suddenly scolded Jenin.

“That’s weird of you.”

“Huh? What is?”

“Why do you automatically think someone is pitiful just because they live alone or don’t have parents? From what she said, it’s not like she’s been starving, and she has friends too.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“I get where you’re coming from, but to her, it might actually be rude.”

I don’t mind, though… You can feel sorry for me as much as you want…

“…Is it?”

Jenin didn’t seem to fully grasp Dain’s point, but she reacted to the word rude. Scratching the back of her head, she turned to me and apologized.

“If that came off as rude, I’m really sorry, Aine.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine. Really. I’m actually happy that you care about my situation.”

“Aine…”

Jenin’s eyes softened even more. Unless she was someone who said one thing and meant another, she really seemed to like me.

Dain, who clearly wasn’t pleased with how things were going between us, turned her irritation elsewhere and snapped at Bakrud, who was still eating.

“Bakrud. When are you gonna be done? I just wanna wash up and sleep already.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Bakrud started eating a little faster. It didn’t seem like that much time had passed, so scolding someone who was simply enjoying their meal felt unnecessary. More than anything, once he finished, it would mean parting ways with the hero’s party for good. That thought suddenly made me anxious.

Maybe… Maybe I should just be honest now?

I asked myself the same question I must have repeated dozens of times already.

Up until now, the answer had always been no. But Jenin’s clear interest in me made me hesitate once more. And Seiris… she seemed to like me, even if only a little. As for Kelian, I wasn’t sure what he thought, but… If the others asked on my behalf, maybe he’d spare me a drop of blood. Or if that was too much, maybe a kiss. A single drop of saliva, at the very least.

I turned my gaze to the window. The sun was setting, casting a golden-red glow over the sky beyond the second floor of the restaurant. Somehow, this day had felt both incredibly long and painfully short.

I had to say it. Even if the chances of rejection were high, even if they turned me down, it didn’t matter. If I let them leave like this, I’d never see them again. They were leaving this summer town soon.

Yeah. I should at least try.

I forced my trembling lips to part—

“Was the meal to your satisfaction, Hero?”

Someone else spoke first.

Uninvited guests were making their way up to the second floor, which had been empty except for us.

A middle-aged man dressed in fine clothing stood before us, accompanied by a much younger woman. Surrounding them were armored guards, as if to protect them. They strode up to our table with purpose.

“I am Petrel Rivens, lord of Three Seasons Castle. And this is my daughter, Linna Rivens.”

The lord of Three Seasons Castle…?

I had never seen his face before, but I knew his name well enough to be stunned. He was the ruler of this land—the one who governed this summer town, my hometown, the spring village, and even the autumn village.

“…Kelian Ail,” the hero responded.

Unlike me, however, the hero’s party didn’t seem particularly surprised. Well, of course—they were much bigger figures than a mere borderland lord. To me, he was an important person, but to them, he was just another noble. The lord himself seemed aware of this, as he showed no displeasure at Kelian’s brief response. Instead, he stroked his mustache and continued speaking.

“I heard you visited the beginner’s hunting grounds. Have you finished your business in town?”

“Yes.”

“In that case, why not stay at Three Seasons Castle tonight? I have extended the invitation several times, but you have repeatedly declined. I decided to visit you in person this time. Now that your work here is done, you should take the opportunity to rest.”

They had refused multiple invitations to stay at the castle…? If it were me, I would have dropped everything and rushed there immediately. I wouldn’t have even dared to decline. At least in this region, the man standing before us was a highly influential figure.

“We’ll take care of our own rest. We already paid for an inn,” Dain said bluntly.

Her tone was rather rude, considering she was speaking to a noble. I shifted my gaze to the lord, and sure enough, his lips stiffened slightly—he was clearly annoyed. Well, he was the lord. If they were going to refuse, they could at least do it politely…

“If that’s a concern, I will compensate you twice over at the castle. I have also prepared gifts for you.”

“We appreciate the offer, but we must decline.”

What must have been his final trump card—the mention of gifts—was effortlessly brushed aside by Kelian’s indifferent rejection.

The hero’s blatant disinterest didn’t just disappoint the lord; his daughter, standing beside him, turned redder by the second.

“…In truth, Hero, I had another reason for seeking you out. If you do not wish to come to Three Seasons Castle, I will make my proposal here instead.”

The lord gave his daughter’s shoulder a couple of firm pats.

“Please take my daughter, Linna, as your wife.”

I whipped my head between the lord’s daughter and Kelian in shock. A marriage proposal—just like that?! Was this how the upper class arranged their marriages? Right here, in a restaurant, of all places?

Not only had the lord’s sudden arrival completely ruined my timing to bring up my curse, but this unexpected turn of events left me utterly dumbfounded.

“I refuse.”

Kelian’s voice was ice-cold—so cold that even I could clearly sense the shift in his attitude. He had at least been maintaining a certain level of courtesy before, but now… His rejection was so immediate that I almost wondered if he had even taken a second to consider it.

The lord, seemingly unprepared for such an outright refusal, hastily spoke again.

“Ah, but you haven’t even gotten to know my daughter yet. If you spend just one day with her, I’m sure you will change your mind.”

“Yes! I have always dreamed of marrying you, Hero. I have worked hard to improve myself and even raised my level past 30. Of course, I could never compare to you, but…”

The more they spoke, the worse Kelian’s expression became.

He looked like someone who had endured this kind of thing far too many times before. Someone utterly exhausted, worn down, completely disinterested in it all.

For the briefest moment, an emotion flickered in his eyes—something that felt like deep, weary resignation. Or maybe that was just my imagination.

“The hero has already refused. Please, leave now.”

Dain’s sharp voice cut through the air, as cold and unwavering as Kelian’s rejection.

As soon as Dain spoke again, the lord finally lost his patience and jabbed a finger in his direction.

“You—! You’re not even the Hero! Who are you to keep interfering?!”

“Why are you pointing fingers at people? Don’t you realize that’s rude?”

The lord’s outburst was met with an equally brash response from Dain. Though, there was something a bit ironic about what she said… Fortunately, Jenin pointed it out for me.

“Dain, you point fingers all the time.”

“T-That’s…! Jenin, whose side are you even on?”

The two of them started bickering again, completely ignoring the tension in the room. Meanwhile, the lord seized the opportunity to resume persuading Kelian.

“Hero, if you marry my daughter, you will become the thirtieth lord of Three Seasons Castle—”

Kelian silently watched as the lord took a step closer to him.

There was no visible emotion in his gaze, but something about it made me uneasy.

The Hero was polite, composed—he wasn’t the type to act recklessly. And yet, it felt like something was about to happen at any moment.

No one else seemed to notice his shift in demeanor. Or maybe I was imagining things again.

Even so…

“The marriage can’t happen.”

With all the different conversations happening at once, I thought my words might go unheard. But to my surprise, the moment I spoke, all eyes snapped toward me.

The instant regret was overwhelming. But with even Kelian now looking at me, I couldn’t just take it back.

“Kelian already has me… so he can’t marry someone else.”

I rapidly blinked at Kelian, silently signaling for him to go along with it.

“The Hero is not known to have a lover. Who are you?”

The lord and his daughter glared at me, their gazes sharp and scrutinizing.

The Hero’s party could simply leave if things got troublesome, but I lived here. I would have to deal with the consequences of whatever I said. Maybe I had acted too recklessly.

But it was too late to back out now.

“We—we are together. We only started dating recently, so no one knows yet. Until now, neither of us had been fully aware of each other’s feelings.”

I even added some unnecessary backstory to make it sound more convincing.

Dain stiffened, her face twisting in disbelief. Jenin stared at me, mouth agape. Only Seiris, who gazed indifferently out the window, and Bakrud, who was still finishing his meal, ignored the situation entirely.

“Hero. Is that true?”

“…Yes.”

Thankfully, Kelian seemed to catch on to my desperate glances and gave a short confirmation.

But the lord still looked unconvinced, his narrowed eyes shifting toward me.

Gulp.

Under his scrutiny, I swallowed hard.

“Very well. Let’s assume the Hero has just started a relationship.”

He didn’t seem to fully believe it, but since Kelian had affirmed it, he had no choice but to acknowledge it. However, his next words made it clear he wasn’t giving up.

“That does not change my offer. My daughter lacks nothing to be the Hero’s wife.”

His sharp glare flicked toward me, making it abundantly clear what he did think—

Unlike you.

“You must also understand this, Hero. A fleeting flame leaves nothing behind once it burns out.”

The meaning was obvious. Your so-called romance is nothing but a childish spark. Choose my daughter instead—someone who will leave behind something lasting.

If I were anywhere near the Hero’s party in level—or if I were truly Kelian’s lover—I might have stood up and said something. But reality was neither of those things. All I could do was press my lips together in silence.

“…A flame.”

Kelian muttered the word under his breath, then turned to look at me.

“Not bad.”

His unexpected response made the lord hesitate.

“What do you mean?”

“If we are flames, then we will burn together—even in death.”

“……”

“Leaving nothing behind. Becoming fire itself.”

That… was not the kind of flame the lord had been talking about.

Once again, Kelian had unknowingly spread temptation in all directions, just like when he had kissed the handkerchief I gave him.

And I wasn’t the only one dumbstruck by it. The noble daughter, who had maintained a dignified expression until now, had gone completely red in the face.

Heroes were dangerous beings.

“I… I will give you more time. Tomorrow at this hour, I will send a carriage here. Please take the time to think it over carefully. Linna, let’s go.”

Even the lord couldn’t hide his unease at the sudden shift in atmosphere.

But his daughter was too dazed to even respond, so he simply took her by the arm and led their group down the stairs.

It wasn’t until their footsteps completely faded that a deep sigh escaped me.

“All done.”

Bakrud, who had been eating the entire time, finally set down his utensils.

The first to break the brief silence was Bakrud. He had continued eating, undisturbed even by the presence of the lord, and now, having finally finished, he casually spoke.

His indifferent tone helped ease the lingering tension in the air, even if just a little. Taking advantage of that, I turned to Kelian and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Hero. I acted on my own… It seemed like you were in a difficult position…”

“There is no need to apologize. Thanks to you, I avoided unnecessary trouble.”

“Exactly. Aine only helped Kelian, so she has nothing to be sorry for,” Jenin chimed in, ever eager to take my side.

But Dain wasn’t about to let that slide.

“Of course she should be sorry. She lied to everyone without permission. You—are you trying to get close to Kelian on purpose?”

The others looked at Dain as if to say, Here we go again, but I was the only one silently nodding to myself.

She was right. I was trying to get close to Kelian.

I turned away, my gaze drifting out the window.

While the lord had come and gone, night had fully settled in, cloaking the town in darkness.

A shapeless pain inched closer. It wasn’t late enough for my curse’s agony to begin, but… with such a rare affliction, I could never be certain when it would strike.

“We should return to the inn.”

Seiris, who had been quiet until now, stood up with a graceful, decisive motion.

Her words sounded less like a suggestion and more like an order. Without hesitation, Kelian and the others followed suit.

Only I hesitated, as if my body were glued to the chair.

I had planned to confess the truth, but then the lord had appeared.

Now that he was gone, the moment had passed. The atmosphere had already shifted toward leaving, and Kelian’s mood seemed even lower than before.

Dain still distrusted me.

Kelian seemed irritated.

Jenin liked me, but would she still defend me if she knew my true intentions?

If I didn’t ask now, I would lose my chance. If they left, that would be it…

But the courage I had gathered earlier had vanished.

Feeling suddenly small, I anxiously reached into my pocket, pulled out some money, and stared blankly at the approaching innkeeper.

Then, without thinking, I turned to Kelian and held the money out to him.

Kelian silently stared at my outstretched hand and the single gold coin resting in my palm.

Ideally, I would have coolly said, Keep the change.

But… my financial situation didn’t allow for that kind of generosity.

“Just give me back 15 silver after paying. My meal cost 85 silver.”

“……”

“…Was it more than 85 silver?”

It shouldn’t be. I had checked the menu earlier, and I was sure it was 85 silver.

The longer Kelian remained silent, the more I worried that I had made a mistake.

Did the hero’s party split the bill evenly, regardless of what they ordered? If so, then I was doomed.

Just thinking about the number of dishes Bakrud had ordered made my head spin.

My brows knitted together in growing anxiety, but before I could panic further, Kelian placed his hand over mine.

His large, cool hand gently folded my fingers over the gold coin, tucking it back into my palm.

“I did not invite you to eat with us to take your money.”

His voice was even quieter than before, almost somber.

Then, just as smoothly, he withdrew his hand and turned away to pay.

Only then did I finally release the breath I had been holding.

For a moment, my heart had plummeted, only to climb back up again at a painfully slow pace.

Why did he have to touch my hand? He could have just said no…

Heroes were dangerous.

Kelian probably had no idea, but he had just tested the limits of my restraint.

I was already on edge, terrified of missing my chance to ask.

I had to say it now.

I wanted to wait until Kelian was in a better mood.

But I didn’t have that kind of time.

Even if I confessed my curse and begged for help right now, it still wouldn’t be enough.

When Kelian turned back after finishing the payment, my urgency grew.

I struggled to open my mouth.

“I…”

“At least you didn’t use the curse excuse this time.”

My already quiet voice was completely drowned out by Dain’s sarcastic remark.

Jenin, who had been lazily rotating one arm like she was warming up for exercise, tilted her head.

“Huh?”

“The lord and his daughter who were just here. It’s surprising she didn’t bring up her curse this time.”

“Oh, right. That’s true.”

“I mean, she probably thought Kelian would fall for her even without making up a pathetic excuse… But at least she was more honest than the others.”

Dain glanced at Kelian, as if expecting him to agree. But he didn’t respond.

It seemed like this entire conversation was unpleasant for him.

“Remember how the royal family of Philique once claimed their princess was afflicted with a rare curse? Seiris checked, and that turned out to be complete nonsense.”

“Yeah, that was ridiculous.”

“People don’t even know what a rare curse actually is, yet they throw it around like it’s some magic ticket to sympathy. Do they think we’ll just believe them?”

Jenin nodded along in agreement, but then she glanced at me—standing there, frozen, mouth slightly open.

She gave me a bright smile.

“That’s why Aine is special. She’s not like those people.”

“What are you talking about? I do think she’s suspicious.”

“Oh, come on, you’re too harsh.”

“I’m not too harsh! You’re just too soft!”

Their now-familiar arguments were always one-on-one, so the outcome was never meant to be decisive. However, the quiet intervention of Seiris tipped the scales.

“I don’t find Aine suspicious.”

He called my name again. And this time, he even defended me against Dain. I had thought he might have taken a slight liking to me, but I never expected him to go this far… With that, I now had two people on my side against Dain.

“Dain.”

“Ugh…”

Even Kelian, the one directly involved, quietly called his name as if telling him to stop. Outnumbered, Dain let out a huff and shut his mouth. At least on the surface, this round of bickering ended in Jenin’s perfect victory. Though, that didn’t mean Dain’s wariness toward me had completely disappeared.

“Oh, now that I think about it… Weren’t you about to say something, Aine?”

Jenin turned to me with a belated realization. At his words, the others also shifted their attention to me—Seiris, who had supported me with a hint of playfulness; Barkrud, who had just finished chugging down the massive water jug given by the restaurant owner; Dain, still visibly irritated; and Kelian, whose mood remained low.

It was a heavy moment, but I was grateful for their attention. Because I did have something to say. Something very important.

Yes, I have something to tell you.

The truth is, Dain’s suspicion was right. I approached the Hero to use him. And now, I’m about to shamelessly ask him to purify my rare curse.

My life depends on it, so please, don’t refuse.

I’m not lying. In just a few more hours, the pain of the curse will begin again. Maybe even sooner.

Please… help me.

The words I needed to say lined up neatly in my mind. The stage had been set; all that was left was to speak.

Even if the ones who trusted me ended up feeling betrayed, even if they got angry and rejected me, there was no helping it. If I parted ways with them like this, the chances of ever receiving their help again were slim.

The only small relief was the rare dungeon item Kelian had given me. I wasn’t sure if it could be sold for 1,000 gold at a shop… but at the very least, if the Hero refused me and I had to return to the temple, it would be a huge help.

With that thought, I finally opened my mouth.

“No.”

…Huh?

“I didn’t have anything to say.”

What the hell was I saying? My mouth moved as if it had a will of its own, spewing out words completely different from what my mind had decided.

“Really? Then shall we head out?”

Jenin spoke cheerfully, and Kelian gestured for me to go first, as if waiting behind. My lips, which had just refused to obey me, curved into a polite smile of their own. As if thanking them for their kindness, I descended the stairs. Even my legs were no longer following my commands.

“Thank you all so much… I won’t forget you. I wish you a safe and pleasant journey ahead.”

I stood by the restaurant’s entrance, the sky now dim, and gave them my final farewell.

Final farewell? No! I need to tell them about the curse! I need to beg for help! Get down on my knees and cling to them if I have to!

However, my mouth had completely shut out the rational orders of my mind and continued speaking on its own.

“Well then, I’ll be off…”

I turned away from them and started walking in the direction of the inn where I had stayed the previous night.

This isn’t right. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go…

“…Haah.”

A sigh escaped me, filled with frustration at my own foolishness. I couldn’t say anything at all!

But how could I tell them I was cursed and needed their help, when they had just said they trusted me?

We had only known each other for two days. Two days. And yet, in those two days, they had treated me better than anyone else in my entire life. Even Malri, my only friend, had drifted away after she found a family of her own.

More than anything, I was terrified of seeing their expressions change after hearing the truth.

…But was that really more important than my life?

They were people from a completely different world than mine. It wasn’t like they would continue to be kind to me or even see me again in the future.

I couldn’t understand myself at all, yet my legs continued carrying me steadily toward the inn.

If I couldn’t rely on the Hero’s help, I had no choice but to return to the temple.

I decided I would spend one more night at the inn, then wake up early tomorrow, sell the rare item in a shop, and head back to the Rixan Temple with the money. Even as I made these plans, I let out another deep sigh.

“Aine.”

A voice suddenly called my name, startling me so much that my shoulders jumped.

When I turned around, I saw Kelian approaching me alone.

“Did I startle you?”

“N-No, I’m fine. But… why are you here, Sir Hero?”

Hadn’t he returned to the inn with the others? Our lodgings were in the same general direction, but I had deliberately taken a different route to avoid them. Kelian shouldn’t be standing in front of me right now.

“The lord left behind some watchers. It seems one of them is tailing you.”

His words startled me so much that I almost glanced around instinctively, but I forced myself to hold back. If we were being watched, I couldn’t afford to make it obvious.

“Why…?”

“They’re either keeping an eye on me to prevent my escape… or they’re suspicious of our relationship.”

Both were plausible. No, those were the only explanations.

I nodded in understanding, though I couldn’t ignore the odd feeling that welled up inside me when Kelian said ‘our relationship.’ Even though I knew full well he didn’t mean anything by it.

“So, I’ll escort you to your lodging.”

When he stepped beside me, I suddenly felt much safer. Having already experienced firsthand how unreliable the town’s security was, I had been feeling a bit uneasy about walking alone on these deserted nighttime streets.

“…Thank you.”

I couldn’t bring myself to refuse and silently walked with him.

Kelian remained polite until the very end. I wondered if all high-level people were like this, or if this was simply why he was called a Hero.

“When you leave here, where will you go next?”

“I’m searching for an S-rank rare dungeon.”

“Oh, right. You need to qualify for the SSS-rank rare dungeon.”

At his words, I recalled the ‘Key to the Trap of the Tailwood Serpent 1’ that was still sitting in my inventory.

“Yes.”

“If the rank goes from A to S, then the next one must be SS, right? As long as the dungeon’s rank matches, does it matter which village it’s in?”

“That’s correct.”

If Dain were here, he probably wouldn’t have liked Kelian casually answering my questions when I wasn’t even part of their group. But Kelian just responded as if it were nothing.

A few passersby recognized him and hesitated mid-step, but since the streets weren’t as crowded as they had been during the day, no one made a scene or lingered to gawk.

“Ah. This is it.”

I stopped in front of the shabby inn—so run-down that a light push could probably make it crumble.

For a brief moment, Kelian failed to hide his expression.

“Are you… staying here?”

“Yes.”

I hadn’t yet told the innkeeper that I’d be staying another night, but I wasn’t worried about there being no vacant rooms.

Aside from a handful of people with circumstances like mine, this inn didn’t seem to attract many guests.

“Aine.”

Kelian spoke seriously.

“Would you consider staying at the inn where we’re lodging instead? This place seems… unsafe.”

“Ah…”

“I will cover the cost.”

He quickly added, as if assuming my hesitation was due to money.

Of course, the place they were staying at looked far more expensive than this rundown inn, so money wasn’t completely irrelevant.

“…….”

Under his expectant gaze, I found myself reading his face as if enchanted.

Even in the darkness, he seemed to radiate nobility.

Or rather, maybe the darkness gave him an entirely different presence than in daylight.

A little more dangerous—a little more alluring.

I had already resolved to give up, yet the polite and stunning Hero kept pulling me back into temptation.

“Sir Hero.”

I called him calmly, and he stepped closer, as if inviting me to continue.

I tried my best not to show any signs of nervousness.

“Right now… do you think the lord’s watcher is still keeping an eye on us?”

He leaned in slightly, likely to hear my whisper more clearly.

His height made him fill my entire field of vision.

“They are watching.”

His voice carried absolute certainty—as if he could sense them even now.

That was good news for me.

Because the watcher’s presence would serve as the perfect excuse for what I was about to do.

I reached out with trembling hands and placed them on both of Kelian’s shoulders.

Beneath his tunic, I felt his firm muscles tense slightly at my touch.

“Then… for the last time, let me help you.”

Even standing on my tiptoes, I couldn’t reach, so I gently cupped his cheeks with both hands and pulled him down. I had worried he might not follow my lead, but thankfully, Kelian lowered his head without resistance, accepting my kiss.

It was the first time my lips had ever touched someone else’s. Maybe that was why my heart was pounding so violently.

But if I was going to drink his saliva, this couldn’t end here.

Fortunately, I wasn’t completely clueless—I had at least heard a few things from Malri. So, my tongue… I had to…

Hesitantly, I stuck out my tongue and traced his tightly sealed lips. They parted slightly in response, just enough for me to slip my tongue inside.

“…Hngh.”

Just from that alone, I was already breathless, a strange sound escaping my throat.

I was relieved that the darkness concealed my burning face.

But now what?

I was supposed to kiss him and swallow his saliva to avoid the lord’s suspicion—an excuse, but still a necessity. But I had no idea what to do next to make that happen.

As my mind was turning blank in panic, something soft and warm brushed against the tip of my tongue.

Kelian’s tongue.

He swept against mine.

Ah—

A sharp sensation pulsed through my lower body, and without thinking, I lowered my heels back to the ground. He followed, tilting his head down further to keep our lips connected. Inside the space where our mouths met, his tongue tangled with mine, moving more boldly now.

“Nnh… mmph…!”

I was the one who had initiated the kiss, who had pushed my tongue inside.

And yet—before I even realized what was happening—his tongue had completely overtaken me, sweeping deep into my mouth, pressing against the roof, curling around my own. I gasped, but most of my breath was stolen by him.

T-This is too much…

My back hit the door of the inn with a dull thud, but Kelian’s hand cradled the back of my head, keeping me from getting hurt.

Yet with the force he was pressing me with, it felt like he might just crush me against the door.

Gulp.

I swallowed—the saliva of the Hero I had so desperately wished for—but I was too dazed to even feel relieved.

Then, he lightly nipped my tongue, and tears welled up in my eyes.

Not because it hurt…

But because this felt way too strange.

“S-Stop… h-ha… S-Sir Hero…!”

As I turned my head away and pushed against his shoulder, the relentless pressure chasing after me came to an abrupt stop.

“…….”

Kelian, though not as breathless as I was, was still catching his breath.

His brows were slightly furrowed, his sharp nose perfectly aligned, and those lips—those very lips that had just tangled messily with mine.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at him directly.

Instead, I turned my head and forced out the words.

“W-Well… surely the lord won’t be as suspicious anymore.”

“…….”

“I’ll just stay here at this inn. It’s not as dangerous as you seem to think.”

I spilled out the words hastily, barely even processing what I was saying.

Then, before I could hear his response, I fled—flinging the door open and rushing inside the inn.

“Then… goodnight, Sir Hero.”

Thud.

The door slammed shut behind me, cutting off my view of Kelian.

Not once had I been able to look directly at his face.

My already flushed face felt like it was about to explode.

Panting heavily, I noticed the innkeeper eyeing me suspiciously, looking as though I had just jolted him awake from a nap.

“I’d like to stay another night… Could you prepare some water for the bath?”

I handed over the one gold coin I had tried to give Kelian earlier but was refused.

The innkeeper accepted it with a reluctant expression and returned 50 silver in change.

Once again, I was given the same room as last night.

I nearly ran inside, shutting the door behind me, and leaned against the window, trying to catch my breath.

The rapid pounding of my heart—was it the forewarning of the curse’s pain? Or was it because of… the kiss with Kelian?

I couldn’t tell.

I stood there for a long while before finally shaking myself out of it.

First, I need to wash up.

After spending the entire day out, from early morning to the rare dungeon, I looked like a mess.

It was ironic—out of everyone, I had done the least, yet I was the dirtiest.

When I stepped out into the hallway and made my way to the bathroom at the end, I caught sight of the innkeeper just leaving—it seemed the bathwater had just been prepared.

I sank into the warm tub, washed my hair, scrubbed my body… but my mind remained completely blank.

With every blink, Kelian’s unbearably handsome face kept surfacing in my thoughts.

His unwavering gaze, the sound of our ragged breaths, the way the kiss had gradually grown more intense…

My first kiss, and nothing about it wasn’t stimulating.

My head turned hazy again, and without thinking, I raised my wet hand—slap!

I lightly smacked my cheek, snapping myself out of it.

“This isn’t the time for this.”

If I kept dawdling in the bath, I might end up experiencing the curse’s pain right here.

Shoving thoughts of Kelian to the back of my mind, I hastily finished washing up.

Thankfully, by the time I returned to my room, the pain hadn’t come.

Even as I lay down on the bed.

Even as my eyes slowly drifted shut.

Even as I fell asleep…

Nothing! No pain!

For the first time in ages, I woke up feeling completely rested.

The sky outside the window was still dark, the sun yet to rise, but I could barely contain my excitement.

A night without pain.

Ever since being cursed, I had never experienced a night like this.

And there was only one possible explanation—the kiss with the Hero.

Even the high priests of the grand temple had claimed that at least ten purification attempts would be needed before I could feel any relief.

Yet my pain had vanished after just one kiss with Kelian.

There had been no notification saying my curse was fully purified, so it wasn’t gone completely. But that didn’t matter.

What mattered was that the priests were right—Kelian could purify my rare curse.

And maybe… he could do it even more effectively than Rixan Temple itself.

Just how powerful is his divine energy?

Thinking back, my decision to give up on him last night had been reckless.

This time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.

I needed to go to him, kneel if I had to, and beg him to kiss me—just like yesterday—until my curse was completely gone.

Just as that thought settled in my mind, a knock sounded at my door.

In a town where I had no connections, the only person who might come looking for me was the innkeeper.

Assuming it was him, I opened the door without hesitation.

“…Sir Hero?”

Kelian was standing there.

He was dressed simply in a gray tunic, yet unlike last night, he looked perfectly composed.

“Aine.”

Hearing him say my name felt strangely foreign.

“Why don’t you come with us?”

I was completely caught off guard.

Kelian’s suggestion was so unexpected that I momentarily lost my words.

Noticing my reaction, he must have realized his explanation had been lacking. He studied my face for a moment before continuing.

“That is, if you don’t have any other plans.”

“……”

“…We can set a time limit if you prefer. How about one year to start?”

Since I wasn’t responding, he kept talking.

He laid out their current plan—to clear the SSS-rank rare dungeon.

To qualify, they first needed to clear A, S, and SS-rank dungeons.

I had already earned an A-rank dungeon entry pass, so there would be no immediate issues.

If things became too dangerous for me, they would drop me off somewhere safe and continue without me.

On and on, Kelian recited their long-term plans in his usual calm, unwavering tone—without a single hesitation.

Honestly, under normal circumstances, I should have been begging to join them.

A chance to travel with the Hero himself? It sounded like a dream.

But…

“Why?”

Kelian claimed there was no problem, but in reality, there were plenty of problems.

“My level is too low compared to yours, I don’t have much to offer, and more than anything… we’ve barely even known each other.

Why would you want to bring me along?”

Now that I said it out loud, it became even clearer—I had nothing to justify being part of their group.

Even if the time limit was just one year, wouldn’t they want someone useful in their party?

Or… was I misunderstanding how party recruitment worked?

My question was rational and reasonable.

And Kelian, true to his nature, answered just as plainly.

“This town doesn’t seem like a suitable place for you to live alone.”

That… I couldn’t deny.

I had only endured this town because the grand temple and the Hero were here. If I had no reason to stay, I would have already returned to Spring Village long ago.

Kelian had already witnessed me nearly getting caught by thugs twice, so it was only natural for him to feel the same way.

But that still wasn’t quite an answer to my question.

“If you come with us… you won’t have to worry about money. At the very least, I can guarantee it’ll be better than staying here. And—”

Not having to worry about money.

Was there any phrase more enchanting than that?

Well, actually, there was. Something like, ‘I will lift your curse for you.’

“I like you.”

Kelian spoke in the same calm, indifferent tone he had used when listing his plans earlier.

So while the sight of him brushing back his slightly tousled golden hair made my heart flutter, his words alone didn’t spark much expectation.

Rather, when I put everything together, one conclusion became clear—

He, or perhaps his party as a whole, did like me.

But more than personal affection, it was probably because I was someone they had gotten involved with by chance—an unfortunate, low-level girl who had already run into trouble multiple times.

Over time, that concern must have turned into pity.

But even if it was pity… it was exactly what I had been hoping for.

“Alright.”

“…….”

“If you’re willing to take me, I’d be grateful.”

At my clear answer, Kelian grinned.

The shift in atmosphere was so instantaneous that it caught me off guard.

I forced myself to smile back as if it were nothing, but internally, my mind was racing, and my heart lurched.

Would spending a whole year together help me build some kind of resistance to that face?

He should really give people a warning before suddenly smiling like that.

“We’re leaving right away. Do you need to stop by your hometown first?”

“No, that’s not necessary. Just let me change my clothes. One moment!”

I carefully sorted through my very limited wardrobe and pulled out the best outfit I had from my inventory.

By the time I finished, Kelian had already closed the door and stepped outside.

Fast.

“I’m ready.”

When I opened the door and spoke, Kelian was standing there waiting patiently. He gave a simple nod.

“Oh, by the way… did the others agree to this? Taking me along, I mean.”

Jenin probably agreed. Seiris might have as well. Barkrud likely didn’t oppose it too strongly.

Dain, though…

No matter how I thought about it, he definitely must have objected.

“Yes. They agreed.”

Kelian sounded certain.

It would have been ridiculous to question him further, so I kept my mouth shut.

And then, on the first floor, I was met with the rest of the group—who had clearly been waiting for us.

One glance at Dain’s deeply furrowed brow made the situation painfully obvious.

He had protested but was overruled.

Or perhaps… he was the only one who opposed it, so he had no choice but to accept.

“Aine. That makes you our companion now.”

As expected, Jenin looked the most pleased.

She approached first, offering her hand, and I gently took it, looking at the others as I spoke.

“Please take care of me from now on.

🌸 Hello, lovely! If you’d like to support me, feel free to check out my Ko-fi! 🌷💕 https://ko-fi.com/breeree

Comment

  1. Mack says:

    Honestly he’s so cute

  2. Luciana Fernandes says:

    Thanks for the updates 🥰

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Options

not work with dark mode
Reset